Journalism Degree in Augusta, GA — Salary & ROI 2026
Journalism degree analysis for Augusta, GA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$37K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$51K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.3 yrs
in Augusta
Cost of Living
83
index (100 = avg)
Journalism in Augusta, GA Overview
Augusta, Georgia (pop. 202,081) has 11 colleges offering Journalism programs. The local cost of living index of 83 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $848/month. Although national enrollment in Journalism has been declining, graduates with skills in Reporting and Investigative Journalism remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Augusta is approximately $36,520.
Category
Communications
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$9,540/yr
Private Tuition
$30,837/yr
Room & Board
$9,609/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,269/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
56%
Journalism Salary in Augusta (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Augusta's cost of living index of 83 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Journalism salary: $44,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Augusta adjustment factor: 0.83x based on the local cost of living index.
Journalism ROI Calculator for Augusta
Estimate your return on investment for a Journalism degree using local Augusta tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,540 | Private avg: $30,837
Augusta avg aid: $12,269/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$76,596
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$7,470
vs HS diploma in Augusta
ROI Payback Period
10.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Augusta
$155,804
Lifetime earnings premium ($232,400) minus total education cost ($76,596)
Student Loan Payoff for Journalism in Augusta
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Augusta for Journalism
Augusta University
public
$9,540/yr
$38,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Augusta Technical College
$3,152/yr
Top Employers for Journalism in Augusta
Augusta offers opportunities in Media companies, PR agencies, Tech companies for Journalism graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Augusta Hiring Sectors for Communications
Media companies
PR agencies
Tech companies
Marketing firms
Publishing
Common Journalism Job Titles
Journalism in Nearby Georgia Cities
Atlanta, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
23 colleges
Columbus, GA
$37K starting · COL 84.5
8 colleges
Macon, GA
$44K starting · COL 101
13 colleges
Savannah, GA
$42K starting · COL 95
12 colleges
Athens, GA
$45K starting · COL 103
11 colleges
Sandy Springs, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Roswell, GA
$48K starting · COL 108.2
4 colleges
Johns Creek, GA
$50K starting · COL 112.8
4 colleges
Other Communications Majors in Augusta
Journalism Degree in Augusta — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Journalism ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Augusta.